Today's Sovietski Sport has an interview with former Russian and twice European champion, 32 year old Alexei Bondarenko.Bondarenko visited the recent World Championships and reports here that he is working on his gymnastics again, despite an injured hand. He speaks of his devastation at his two disastrous falls on vault in Athens, and of the...
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Is Men's gymnastics artistic?
A great discussion going on at the Gymnastics Coaching blog on artistry raises some important questions, especially since Nelli Kim mentioned there may be a future need for harmonisation between the men's and women's Codes. I have a few thoughts to elaborate on this subject, but office politics (groan) and student assessment must take first place...
Monday, November 22, 2010
The two Sidorovas are posted to compete in Belgium 27/28 November
Charlotte at the All Around Forum reports that Anastasia Grishina and Anastasia Sidorova are planning to compete at the Belgian Top Gym tournament weekend of 27/28 November. It will be great to hear reports of their progress and performance at this competition which is running for its 14th year.Edited 23/11 - please see comments below - sadly,...
International Tournament Daniel D'Amato, Blanc Mesnil, France
This weekend in Blanc Mesmil, France, the Daniel D�Amato International Tournament took place. This is a team and individual competition for boys and girls from Spain, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Russia, and local teams from France. A list of participants can be found here. Full results have yet to be posted on the website but, via...
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Developing this blog
Cor. When I began this blog, only a couple of months ago, I never realised quite how much goes on in the constantly evolving world of Russian gymnastics. I started out by wanting to look back to try to make some sense of what might be happening now and in the future. As it turns out, current events are enough to keep me occupied,...
Results of Glasgow Grand Prix competition
Results of the Glasgow Grand Prix can be accessed here. Australia's Lauren Mitchell dominated this competition, taking golds on beam and floor. Russia's Ekaterina Kurbatova, the only gymnast to qualify to all four event finals, took gold on vault but finished outside the medals elsewhere. Well done, Katya! Anna Myzdrikova unfortunately finished...
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Local/junior competitions in Russia
While the world focusses on international competitions such as this weekend's Grand Prix, Russian junior and local competition continues. Perhaps a name emerging from one of these competitions will in future make it onto the Russian national team at European, World or Olympic level. They perhaps help to guage the progress of development of the 'mass...
Friday, November 19, 2010
Toyota Cup, Tokyo, Japan, 11 and 12 December
Albert and Nora at the All Around Forum have kindly provided a link to the roster for the above competition. For Russia, Anna Dementieva, Aliya Mustafina and Ekaterina Kurbatova are so far posted to compete.This weekend, Ekaterina Kurbatova and Rotterdam reserve Anna Myzdrikova compete in Glasgow at the Grand Prix (World Cup competition). I will...
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
WAG new elements credited by the FIG
The FIG have now published a list of new elements credited at the World Championships 2010 (Rotterdam). You will also find a list of new elements credited at the Youth Olympic Games.Nabieva, Mustafina and (Youth Olympics) Komova have all had uneven bars elements named after th...
Monday, November 15, 2010
Ballet or gymnastics?
My friend Ian from the University of Greenwich sent me this link to the Chinese State Circus's version of Swan Lake. He headed the email - 'Ballet, or gymnastics?'. I found that quite intriguing, and even though I don't have time to write more now, I wanted to share it with you.Please do comment! I'd love to know what you think of th...
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Media link - Andrei Rodienenko - Question and Answer session
Andrei Rodienenko has been busy recently answering questions! Here, he considers the theme 'What are the chances of the Russian gymnasts at the Olympics 2012'.Incidentally, I am growing to love the eccentricities of Google translate which perhaps deserves a blog all of its own. Do please enjoy this piece and its literary associations as best you...
Media links - results of this weekend's competitions
The Russian girls have been busy - and very successful - this weekend! All seven gymnasts from the national team (including reserve Anna Myzdrikova) are scheduled to compete by the end of this month. Massilia CupThe wonderful TATIANA NABIEVA competed alongside her team mates KSENIA SEMENOVA and KSENIA AFANASYEVA in Marseille this weekend at the Massilia...
Friday, November 12, 2010
Media link - Sovietski Sport interview with Aliya Mustafina
A fascinating interview is available to view here : http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/418471Includes some relatively detailed discussions surrounding the apparently sudden departure of Dina Kamalova (Aliya's coach during her years as a junior competitor) to America, the role of CSKA head Galina Stepanova in helping link Aliya to her new coach,...
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Media links - Sports Express interviews with Rodienenko, Komova and Mustafina
A press conference was held at which Rodienenko, Mustafina and Komova discussed the recent world championships and their plans for the forthcoming year. Rodienenko also makes reference to the state of men's gymnastics and to the state of University gymnastics in Russia.Video conference (one hour long) is available here : http://www.tatar-inform.ru/video/1369/Gennady...
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Moscow Regional Competitions - Master of Sports/Candidate Master of Sports - results
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Lake Krugloye - rewarding the gymnasts and coaches/considering the future
A flurry of activity at Lake Krugloye: first, on the 1st November, Russian minister of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy Vitalyi Mutko visited the training base to congratulate the women's team on their victory in Rotterdam, and also to present awards to various gymnasts and coaches:Merited Master of Sport medals were given to Ksenia Afanasyeva, Tatiana...
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Boris Pilkin - a tribute (media link)
Nora at the All Around Forum kindly alerts us to the following article and short video tribute to the irreplaceable Boris Pilkin.http://belnovosti.ru/news/society/2010/10/22/belgorod-prostilsya-s-borisom-pilkinymAnd see here one of his masterpiece works of gymnastic art.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzSMcTtYkikRest in peace, Bor...
